June 8

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR JUNE 8, 2026: JEREMIAH 11, GALATIANS 2, PSALM 51:13-19

JEREMIAH 10 In reading this chapter this writer is reminded of truths that apply to all chapters of the Bible. Sometimes they appear more at the forefront of the text and other times are un- derstood but not as explicitly indicated. This chapter clearly expresses truths about an un- changing God and unchanging truths about how mankind should respond to this God. Differ- ences in the details of this response are based upon the covenant period in which mankind lives. This topic will only be introduced in today’s guide because it is so massive and profound.

What do we learn about God’s unchanging nature and mankind’s options in this chapter? 

  • The creator God exists and communicates with mankind (vs.1-2). Hebrews 1:1-2 affirms this and describes how this communication is expressed in our covenant time: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.”
  • Mankind is cursed if she/he rejects God (vs. 2-3). In the Mosaic Covenant, rejecting God, expressed in disobedience to the law, brought God’s curse. In our covenant period, rejection is lack of trusting faith in Jesus: “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
  • God eternally blesses mankind for entering in and keeping His Covenant (vs.4-5).According to Wesleyan interpretation, God now blesses mankind for receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord and continuing to walk with Him: “I [Jesus] am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5-6).

In verses 6-8, God tells Jeremiah to remind Judah about the covenant He made with Israel during the exodus that their fathers repeatedly broke. This choice brought them all their greatproblems. In verses 9-12, God informs Jeremiah that the then-current generation has been just as unfaithful as their evil ancestors. Thus, God’s judgment or curse (see bullet point two above) will take effect. Is God being unfair or not like the Jesus we read about?Remember Jesus tells us above (John 15:6), all who don’t remain Him are thrown in the fire and burned. We can’t make a Jesus we want instead of the one He reveals to us. That would be idolatry.

Verses 14-17, God tells Jeremiah not to pray for Judah. It’s too late. He uses the same burning branch metaphor Jesus uses later. This suggests God’s patience, though great, is not unlimited: “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isa. 55:6). The chapter closes with God informing Jeremiah of a plot against his life by people from his hometown. In verse 20 Jeremiah, knowing that God always judges correctly, places His life in God’s hands. Have we donelikewise? 

READING FOR JUNE 8, 2025 CONTINUED: GALATIANS 2, PSALM 51:13-19                            GALATIANS 2 After reading this study guide, it would be good to reread Galatians 2 and then reread this guide. The topic is that important and can be that difficult to understand. Certainly, it is challenging to convey clearly. 

After 14 years of preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, Paul went back to Jerusalem and let the church leadership examine his message. He did this because some “false brothers” thought Paul was teaching incorrect doctrine. But Peter, John, and James supported Paul’s message and those converted through it. They did not require Gentile converts to adhere to the ceremonial law: such as circumcision or a kosher diet. Soon after that, Peter visited the church in Antioch, Paul’s base of operations. There, Peter apparently ate non-kosher food with uncircumcised believers in Jesus without a concern. 

Then some Jewish believers in Jesus came from James, who seemed to be the leader of the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 15). Suddenly, out of concern for the reaction of these Jewish Christians, Peter disassociated himself from the Gentile believers and reverted back to the ways of the Mosaic Law. This in turn impacted the behavior of the rest of the Jewish Christians in Galatia, even Paul’s trusted coworker Barnabus.  Somewhat shockingly, this public act called for Paul to publicly rebuke Peter for acting as if faith in the completed work of Jesus was not sufficient to make the believer acceptable in the sight of God—that somehow doing the ceremonial works of the law was still required.

Paul asks if not keeping the ceremonial law (such as in kosher food and circumcision) is sin, does that mean that faith in the justifying work of Jesus does not free us from sin (vs. 17)? Paul answers that the law itself showed him that our justification comes only from dying to ourselves and our own works and by living in the forgiveness and power of the living Christ (vs. 19-20). Ponder again his last statement: “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” THIS IS THE GOSPEL!

PSALM 51:13-19 David seems to link his state of unconfessed sin, unclean heart, and lack of joy to his being ineffective in converting unbelievers to faith. Might an ineffectiveness in our Christian witness be linked in this same way? David certainly believes a restored relationship with God will facilitate his bringing unbelievers to God. Perhaps we might pray for this closer relationship with God and then likewise commit to sharing the good news of God as David intended: “Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.  Lord, open my lips, so that my mouth may declare Your praise” (vs. 14-15).  So often we think the way we live our lives is sufficient testimony to others about our faith so that we don’t need words. Not so with David. 

Why does the Psalmist say in verse 16 that God doesn’t delight in burnt offerings when God commanded Israel to offer them? In fact, verse 19 says God does delight in these offerings. It is because God cares much more about the intent of our heart than our religious activity.  He is making a point that we must embrace. John the Baptist was sent to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus by telling us we are in a state of condemnation and need to repent. Jesus’s first words of ministry? “Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”’ (Matt. 4:17). We are not OK. We are not good. We need to repent in order to receive the sacrifice of Jesus our savior and then follow Him as Lord. THIS TOO IS THE GOSPEL!